Panerai Models

Officine Panerai is one of those brands that is little known by the general public but has achieved cult status among aficionados. Panerai’s highly specialized production irrevocably connected its name with the marine environment. The products, developed to standards of quality and reliability superior to the norm for military use, included luminous mechanical calculators for launching torpedoes, aiming devices, depth gauges, compasses, and time fuses for mines or underwater primers. It was as a result of the technology acquired in these fields that Panerai was able to create an extraordinary specialist underwater watch.

Officine Panerai progressively improved its designs, with increased luminosity of numerals and hands, and the now famous crown-locking device. The radioactive radium, which gave such legibility to the Radiomir models, was replaced with the less toxic compound "Luminor" as well as the Mare Nostrum chronograph. Made in very limited numbers, these were targeted at the collector. In a clever marketing move, a few "unique editions" were produced each year, with an intriguing movement or case design. The Luminor is packaged in a wooden box, like the one that that holds a ship’s chronometer. But it is not simply packaging that makes this watch special. Guaranteed to 300 meters, the watches are actually tested to resist a pressure of 40 atmospheres, which is one-third greater and equivalent to a depth of 400 meters.

Now the company refreshed the Luminor line with new models. Panerai has dedicated this special edition of the Luminor Chrono 1000M to Sylvester Stallone, who cooperated in the design phase of this watch of generous size. The actor indeed follows the Panerai production very closely being one of the first fans of the brand. For this edition, limited to 500 pieces for the black dial and 300 for the white dial versions, Sylvester Stallone has renounced all payment, deciding to give the whole proceeds to The Heart of a Child Foundation.The Luminor Chrono 1000M Slytech adapted to professional use, capable of surviving a depth of 1,000 metres with its use of the helium valve and screw-down chronograph push-pieces. The titanium case, with a diameter of 47 millimetres, is enhanced by the steel device protecting the winding crown and bezel for measuring the time of immersion.

Panerai is returning to the theme of a special series devoted to the men in uniform with the 2005 edition of the Luminor Marina Militare, a re-edition of a design for left-handers dating back to the 1940s but features a different case, the Luminor 1950 type. The Luminor Marina Militare stands out particularly for the position of the winding crown and small seconds dial, in the left-handed position: the bridge protecting the winding crown, an unmistakable element of the Luminor collection which ensures water-resistance to 100 meters.The sandwich dial (it consists of two superimposed discs) is protected by a sapphire crystal, with anti-reflection treatment. Through the window of the back, also made of sapphire crystal, the Panerai OP XI calibre can be admired. It is an automatic mechanical movement which will operate for a period of 56 hours, when the spring barrel is fully wound. The Luminor Marina Militare is manufactured in a limited series of 1000 units.th C.O.S.C. Chronometer Certificate. The passion for the Sea celebrated through the masterpiece 20,000 Leagues under the Sea is skilfully reproduced on the engraving of the Luminor Sealand cover.The Luminor Sealand watch dedicated to Jules Verne will be produced in a limited edition of 100 units.

The first, and perhaps the most desirable of all the Panerai unique models is Radiomir. The original Radiomir differs from more recent Radiomir models in that the fixed wire lugs cannot be removed, and so the straps must be sewn into place.Panerai Radiomir was created for the Italian Navy in the mid-1950's. About 50 examples were made, so it is very rare and very collectible. Being the elite Navy in its region during the 1950s, the Italian had permitted other Mediterranean Navy officers to be attached to their Navy Institute for training. Each foreign officer was issued with Panerai gears during their attachment with the Italian Navy. It was probably from these trainings that the other Mediterranean navies have come to know about these unique and relaible Panerai gears! Several special watch models were developed at the request of the other Mediterranean navies. One of them was the 'Egiziano' Panerai. The first prototype send to the Egyptian Navy was rejected; the Egyptian Navy wanted something much 'stronger' and 'indestructible'. And Panerai complied with the oversized watch.

Today Panerai features a brand-new model: the Radiomir Base, the evolution of the Black Seal of 2004. Inspired directly by Panerai's military models of the 1940s, these dials consist of two superimposed plates, with the lower one covered with a fine layer of luminous material designed to guarantee the best legibility of time information even at great depths.Through the sapphire crystal back one can admire the Panerai OP X calibre, a hand-wound movement now presented with a completely different finish compared to the previous editions: the bridges, with Cotes de Geneve decoration, the polished blue-coloured screws, and the swan neck system for the regulation of the active length of the balance spring.The large-sized buckle draws inspiration from the one used for the first models manufactured for the Navy, with its familiar trapezoidal design.

Created for the Italian Navy, the first Panerai watch was also the first military divers’ watch. It is the history of this watch, along with the unique design, that appeals so much to watch enthusiasts. Faced with the dilemma of designing watches that divers could read while underwater, Officine Panerai devised a simple solution: make the watches extremely large. When international watch trends began to favor a larger watch, Panerai, the small Florentine company that had manufactured watches for both the Italian and the Egyptian navies, was rediscovered. Officine Panerai continues to demonstrate the principles that have always inspired the Panerai family: innovation, exclusivity, and quality.

Panerai watches are still manufactured to high standards by specialist craftsmen, perform perfectly in demanding situations and can withstand extreme conditions. It is on these qualities that their association with adventures and great achievements is based. Panerai watches have a unique personality but they meet the highest standards of quality, typical of military equipment. Their main requirement is reliability and the strict manufacturing standards are unmatched in the watchmaking industry among watches intended for general use.

The design of Panerai watches is unmistakable. They are large, with simple, luminous dial markings, which was dictated by the need for instant legibility in poor light underwater. So the watches have an aesthetic personality as strong as their technical and mechanical characteristics, making them great watches from every point of view.

Panerai – A Prestigious Brand Since 1860

Panerai Wristwatches have always had legendary status. The special relationship shared with Rolex and the Italian Navy has elevated Panerai watches to a mythical level.

Giovanni Panerai (1825-1897), founder of the family business, opens the first watchmaker's shop in Florence in 1860 on the Ponte alle Grazie and establishes contact with the most prestigious and longest established Swiss watch manufacturers.

The company produced precision instruments for use by the Italian Navy, migrating to watches made specifically for these Navy Commandos as early as the 1930's. During WWII, they supplied watches, compasses, torches and depth gauges to the Italin Navy marine commandoes. There were 2 versions of the watches, the Radiomir Panerai which used radium and the later Luminor Panerai which used trituim.

Up until the end of the 80's Panerai produced watches exclusively for the Italian army. These watches were, at that time, subject to the Italian Military Secrets Act. Only since 1993 have they been available to the general public.

In 1993, Panerai issued re-editions of the Luminor model and started producing the Mare Nostrum chronograph. Both were in a limited edition of only a hundred pieces for each version. These are now selling for more than 200% of the original list. After the Vendome Group accquired Panerai in 1997, they re-started the regular production lines. The Luminor and Mare Nostrum models were produced in unlimited numbers and other complicated models were added. Another limited edition was unveiled, the platinium Luminor with the original Rolex movement. Only 60 pcs. of those wil be produced. The estimated output of Panerai watches in 1998 is about 6,400 pieces for world-wide consumption. All in the current range are tested water-resistant to 400 m, but Panerai only guarantees them to 300 m.

During the decades that followed the company registered numerous patents for inventions in the areas of watchmaking and optical equipment.To this day Panerai watches continue to meet the high technical requirements of the marine forces.

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